Lavrov Repeats Moscow's Stance On Georgia's Breakaway Regions

Russia's foreign minister has reiterated Moscow's recognition of independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Sergei Lavrov said on January 21 that the Georgian authorities' attempts to link efforts to normalize Tbilisi-Moscow ties with the demand to revise the Kremlin's position over the two regions are "pointless, counterproductive, and will not get anything."

Lavrov's statement came a day after the Georgian Foreign Ministry protested against a decision by Russia and Abkhazia to move the Russian border 11 kilometers into Abkhazia in order to maintain security during the Winter Olympics in Sochi next month.

Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states after a short war with Georgia in August 2008.

Moscow keeps troops in both regions in what Georgia considers a de facto occupation.